Fewer campsites will open for Greenfield State Park's 50th year

By KATHLEEN BAGLIO HUMPHREYSUnion Leader Correspondent

The Department of Parks and Recreation oversees 92 campgrounds, beaches or historic attractions for families to enjoy such as Greenfield State Park in southern New Hampshire. The park is celebrating its 50th anniversary. (KATHLEEN BAGLIO HUMPHREYS/Union Leader Correspondent)

GREENFIELD — With fewer campers visiting the 400-acre Greenfield State Park on Route 136 in recent seasons, park officials are scaling back the number of available campsites.

Nearly 100 campsites will go dark.

The upside is that 154 of the more popular sites are available for campers. The park has 257 sites, including five youth group sites.

“We notice over the past 10 years the occupancy rates diminishing so we looked at the current occupancy and we can easily make this a more manageable space and cut back some of the sites,” said Amy Bassett of the N.H. Parks and Recreation Division.

“If we start to see we are continually selling out, we’ll think this decision,” she said.

On July 19, Greenfield State Park will host the “Great Park Pursuit” for families and friends to challenge themselves and others with activities designed to use the whole park. Registration opens July 5.

Also starting in July, the “Discover the Power of Parks” program will host interpretive programs.

Otter Pond is open to the public and has a public beach area and a private camper’s beach area with a 900-foot beach. It offers bathhouses, a boat launch, picnic tables as well as canoe and kayak rentals. The store sells hot dogs, pizza, candy, beverages and other items. The picturesque lake is set back in a quiet area but is easily accessible from Forest Road in Greenfield. There are no lifeguards on duty.

A playground is across the street from the park entrance and challenging hiking is nearby at North Pack or Mount Monadnock.

The park is pet friendly but due to state law dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Greenfield State Park has wooded tent sites with no hookups. Bathhouses with electricity and running water are throughout the park. There are no trailer sites. Also celebrating it 50th anniversary are Clough State Park in Weare, Wallis Sands State Park in Rye and the Mount Washington State Park. Celebration events will be finalized soon.

For more information call Greenfield State Park at 603-547-3497 or visit www.nhstateparks.org or discoverpowerofparks.com.